Faith Defined

"It always circles back around to Him being faithful."

Faith without works is dead, or we could say, Belief in the One who is faithful without resulting action is useless. Here’s another expression of it. Faith wrought with works is made perfect. This can also be written, Belief in the One who is faithful done with resulting actions is action made complete or accomplished. (James 2:17, 22)

FAITH, G4102, belief with the predominate idea of trust; faithfulness, the character of one who can be relied on

JUSTIFIED, G1344, to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be

“By works a man is justified, and not by faith only (James 2:24).” We could say it this way, When we do the actions which result from our belief in the One who is faithful we are a man who is made such as he ought to be. It is not only by having belief in the One who is faithful, but actions result from our belief in His faithfulness.

Actions could be physical efforts. It could be physical provisions. It could be prayer. It could be generosity of heart which may result in generous giving.

As the Father cannot wait to “do”, to provide, to “perform an action,” we have belief in Him because we know He is faithful, and we cannot wait to “do”, to provide, to take action, and our action becomes the visual evidence of our complete trust in His faithfulness. It always circles back around to Him being faithful.

Actions can be speaking. It can be silence. Knowing the difference comes because you are hearing the One who is faithful.

As He is faithful, we are to be faithful. As He is taking action, we are to take action. For ourselves, for others, for God. He believed, therefore He spoke, and the world was created. We believe, and therefore we speak. Our words create our reflexive actions. Our actions show our complete belief.

Actions done with belief in ourself produces nothing. It is our belief in Jesus’ actions that produces salvation and in believing in His faithfulness, we are made such as we ought to be. He is faithful to make us as we ought to be. We are given justice He earned for us. This is grace or we can say favor. We are the lesser who is given what we do not deserve and could not earn because He favored us and had the authority to procure justice and make us such as we ought to be.

We know His character now, as a result, and can trust His faithfulness to us for every need He has promised to supply.

Photo by Dave Herring on Unsplash


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com